Guarding What’s Mine (Men of Maddox Security #3)

Chapter 7

Boone

I get to work on breakfast while Aubree sits at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, staring out the window. The silence between us is comfortable, but there’s something a little too quiet about it. I’ve learned over the years that sometimes it’s best to let the quiet linger, to let the tension settle before you break it.

I pull a few eggs from the fridge, crack them into a bowl, and start whisking. It’s nothing fancy, just scrambled eggs and toast, but it’s enough to get the day started right. I move with precision, my mind wandering a little. I’m used to solitude, but there’s something about having Aubree here that’s different. It’s not uncomfortable—far from it—but it’s unfamiliar, and I can’t quite shake the feeling that she’s watching me, even though I’m focused on the stove.

“You know,” I say as I season the eggs, “I’ve cooked for myself a thousand times, but never like this. Never for someone else.”

She looks up from her coffee, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she quickly looks back down. “I don’t expect you to be some kind of gourmet chef or anything. I’m just happy you’re feeding me.”

I chuckle at that, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Gourmet, huh? That’s setting the bar pretty high.”

“Well, knowing my mother she’d hire a bodyguard with high standards,” she teases, her voice light and easy. It’s the first time I’ve heard her sound genuinely relaxed since I met her. It’s nice to see her like this, even if just for a moment.

I slide the eggs onto a plate and toast the bread, flipping the toast with a quick flick of my wrist. I pour two glasses of orange juice, setting them on the table beside her. “Here you go, gourmet breakfast.” I place the plate in front of her, taking a seat across from her as I grab my own plate.

She picks up a fork and takes a bite of the eggs, chewing thoughtfully. “Okay, I’ll admit. Not bad. I mean, considering you’re a security guy and not a professional cook.”

I laugh, the sound coming out easier than I expect. “I guess I have a few hidden talents.”

She raises an eyebrow. “I’m sure. You seem like the type who can handle anything.”

I shrug, not one to brag. “Just doing my job. That’s what matters.”

For a while, we eat in silence, the clink of our forks on the plates the only sound. The food is simple, but it’s the most relaxed I’ve felt in days. There’s something about her, something easy and real. It’s different from the usual tension that comes with guarding someone, but I can’t put my finger on why.

“So, tell me something about you,” she says after a while, breaking the silence. She looks at me over her cup of coffee, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Where are you from? You don’t strike me as a small-town kind of guy.”

I set my fork down, leaning back in my chair. I know she’s just making small talk, but it’s a fair question. “I’m from a place called Pine Ridge. Small town, just like this one, actually. But I left when I was eighteen, joined the Marines. Spent a lot of time overseas.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and I can tell she’s interested. “Tell me more about the Marines.”

“Yeah?” I ask, pushing my plate aside. “I was a Marine Raider for a few years. That was... well, it was intense. A lot of traveling, a lot of danger. But it shaped me. Taught me what I wanted to do with my life. I left when I got tired of fighting, you know? But being a Marine gave me the skills I use now. The discipline, the focus. It’s all part of it.”

She’s quiet for a moment, processing that, before she asks, “What was it like?”

“Hard. Really hard,” I say, my voice quieting slightly as I think back to those days. “But it was worth it. It taught me how to handle pressure, how to think on my feet. I’ve been through some shit, but I wouldn’t change it.”

She nods slowly, her gaze thoughtful. “I bet. Sounds like it was life-changing.”

“It was,” I admit. “And that’s why I do what I do now. I protect people. Make sure they stay safe. It’s what I’m good at.”

She’s quiet for a long time, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “I can see that,” she says softly. Then, after a pause, she adds, “I don’t know if I’m cut out for something like that. My life’s... simpler.”

“Sometimes simple’s all you need,” I reply, keeping my tone easy, though a part of me wonders what she means by that. What’s her life been like?

She seems to sense my curiosity. “I don’t have a lot of friends,” she says, looking down at her hands. “My mom’s really the only person I can count on. She’s kind of my best friend. I’ve always been kind of a loner.”

I can’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Your mom?”

She looks up, a small smile on her lips. “Yeah. She’s been there for me through everything. She’s the one who convinced me to open the pizza shop. I guess that’s part of why it means so much to me. I don’t know... I don’t really let other people in.”

I lean back in my chair, the weight of her words hitting me harder than I expected. “That’s not a bad thing. You don’t have to let everyone in.”

She looks at me, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You don’t let anyone in either, do you?”

I smile, but there’s no humor in it. “Guess you could say that. I’m not really the sharing type.”

She laughs softly. “I can tell.”

I look down at my watch and check the time, realizing it’s getting late. “We should head to town. We’re running low on supplies. Let’s get you some things for the cabin.”

She nods and stands up, stretching. “You’re right. I need to pick up a few things myself.”

I walk to the door, holding it open for her as she heads out. “All right, let’s go then.”

The drive to the store is quiet, but it’s not uncomfortable. She’s sitting beside me, her presence a calm, steady force in the truck. I steal a quick glance at her as I drive, noticing how she’s humming along to the radio, the smallest hint of a smile on her face. It’s a good look on her.

We get to the store, and as we walk inside, I’m acutely aware of her beside me. There’s something about her that’s easy to be around, and I’m not sure what to do with that. But for now, it’s enough.